Motta Baluffi on the Po: Nature, History and Local Festivals

Motta Baluffi on the Po: Nature, History, Local Festivals and Ecclesiastical Traces

Motta Baluffi and its hamlet of Solarolo Monasterolo lie along the main embankment that follows the course of the Po. The main embankment runs alongside the river and gives the town a clearly defined riverfront. The ancient Strada degli Argini runs along the Po between Cremona and Casalmaggiore and passes through Motta Baluffi. Its route is therefore part of the town’s historical network of roads.

Lanca di Gerole: Oxbow Lakes, a Palaeochannel and the Po Floodplain

The “Lanca di Gerole” Nature Reserve lies in a river floodplain of considerable natural and scenic importance. Two large, concentrically arranged oxbow lakes at different stages of development shape the area. There is also an almost completely silted-up palaeochannel, which was partly reactivated through earlier extraction activities. An oxbow lake is a former river channel alongside the main course; a palaeochannel is an older watercourse that has since changed.

The PO02 Cycling Loop on the Embankment of the Lanca di Gerole

The “Lanca di Gerole” Nature Reserve is also one of the last refuges of the toad Pelobates fuscus insubricus, endemic to the Po Valley. The PO02 cycling loop – La Golena del Po runs along the embankment beside the “Lanca di Gerole” Nature Reserve. This gives it a specific route point for planning a cycling tour in the Po area.

San Cataldo: Ecclesiastical and Social History in Motta Baluffi

In the 12th century, Motta Baluffi was home to the important San Cataldo della Motta hospital. It provided admission and treatment for the sick, people suffering from pellagra and the poor. The parish of San Cataldo in Motta Baluffi has been documented since the 14th century. The parish church of San Cataldo in Motta Baluffi is richly decorated inside and dates from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Solarolo Monasterolo: Links to the Humiliati, an Entrance Portal and a Copper Raven

The hamlet of Solarolo Monasterolo is associated with a former Humiliati monastic settlement. In Solarolo Monasterolo, Cascina Maggi-Stanga has a monumental entrance portal. The portal is surmounted by a large copper raven, which stands as a distinctive architectural detail above the entrance.

The Patron Saint’s Festival and Feèra d’la Mota: Two Festivals

The patron saint’s festival of Motta Baluffi is dedicated to San Cataldo and is celebrated every year on 10 May. Feèra d’la Mota is an annual festival in Motta Baluffi featuring tradition, culture and entertainment. Both festivals form part of Motta Baluffi’s annual public calendar.

Lanca Ronchetto: Mooring Facility and Private Fishing Centre in Motta Baluffi

Lanca Ronchetto has a mooring facility in Motta Baluffi. The site is a private fishing and mooring centre in Motta Baluffi.

More Places to Visit on Your Trip to Italy

For more travel ideas, you can also discover Offanengo, Bordolano, Rivarolo Del Re, Costa Santʼ Abramo, Credera, Cicognolo, Boschetto and Montodine.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cremona.